The Southern herald., 1887-07-09


song rose on the soft air. To this day
can not speak calmly Of thet mo-
ment. The sweet song rose and died
away twice before / stirred.
had heard Miss Roland sing often,
and once this self-same song, but her
voice was artificial and as ''thin as
muslin" while these tones rang out
like the notes of a mountain flute, and
the words melted into the tune, until
words and melody seemed one.
'She always calls us with that" said
Lanny, his tiny voice exultant
Faith, she do" said Dennis, nodl
ding. Hasn't she the voice Of q birdP"
inquired Dennis, searching my face.
'Sure it's whole grove Of them,"
added Lanny.
And when I gave them permission to
move, and 1t needed but a glance to do
it, they seized each hand, and
dragged me with them.
'Here we are! here we arer' they
both shouted in breath, land this is
him with the bread and meat! You
told us he was a man in fairy taleP'
A faint flush, like that presaging the
dawn, rose to her lovely face, as I
hastened to introduce myself in a more
regular way.
She smiled and at once told me her
own name. The boys were so eager
that had to show her the sketch I had
just made; and then they begged so hard
for another, with their Miss Vera be-
tween them, to take home to the
mother, that she consented, and sat
down on moss-covered stone with
Dennis on one side and Lanny at the
other.
Town that / hesitated; could l ever
draw that beautiful face!
"Sure, it's not SO aisy," said Lanny,
pure fun dancing in his eyes.
"Her is different from we!' broke
forth from Dennis.
"Dennisr' said Miss Vera, reproach-
fully
Sure, l think It'll the hunger makes
us forget the grammar, said Lanny,
with side look at the lunch box.
At that we both laughed, and as
they promised me longer sitting mex
day, and as many as I needed, l put
the materials away and opened thu
box. the boys easily persuading Miss
Vera to share with us in the impromptl
meal.
Bread and butter never tasted hal
so sweet before! We had but one course
but it was seasoned with such brigh
wit, such sound sense and such good
feeling that to me ii seemed feast.
/ found out that Vera Brophy ha(
gathered about her, the summer be
fore, thirty or forty of the little chill
dren on that lonely mountain, AM
taught them to read and spell. and thi
summer they were getting some insigh
into grammar and making faint ap
proaches to mathematics
Well. to make a long story Short
made one of the school after that.
believe she called me her assistant
but indeed l was an eager learner a
her feet.
Day after day, l looked in her blu
eyes, reading her sweet lessons o
truth and patience, until at lengtI
love crowned my good endeavors.
"But would you take a poor gil
from these Irish hills to your hom
across the seas?" she said shyly, on
day, month later.
Sure. would If ] could get hei
as Lanny would say" l added, laugh
ing.
And then she told me the secret {
her work. 1t was all labor Of love
She had q small competence, but sh
was alone in the world, and for tn
love of her own little countrymen sh
had left the city and spent two sum
mers teaching them.
"But school house is to be bull
here next year." she said, "and the
will not need me so much"
mot as much as / shall," Ireplied
and so it was all settled between us.
Miss Roland and her mother cam
the next day, and Mamie with them
Vera met them in the parlor OF tn
hotel, with her own sweet grace, an
Mamie soon afterward received he
with open arms, and promised to sta
for the wedding; but Mrs. Rolan
turned her back on her and he
daughter followed her example.
1t was not many days before Ou
party was reorganized. They rcturne
to Dublin, and soon after crossed
London; and cousin Mamie made or
of happier party.
The summer sunshine had faded O
the Irish hills, and the Shower o Col
has fallen; but though outside our co
tage home the wintry winds blow
Vera and l know nothing of its chill
Her smile brightens all our hous
her sweet song makes it cheerful a
the year round; and when two montl
ago Lanny came over to us, to !
adopted as an office boy he looked
us both with rare twinkle in h
eyes:
Sure, it's happy / am to see ye bot
comforted. ~ Yankee Blade.
No Room for Him.